Tasmanian Conservation Trust scores political parties on the environment policies

Media Release

Thursday 18 March 2010

Tasmanian Conservation Trust scores political parties on the environment policies

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust today released its 2010 state election environment policy scores for the three major parties, as measured against the TCT’s top ten policy priorities.

– Greens Party 8 / 10 – excellent result but room for improvement

– Liberal Party 3.75 / 10 – the big improver

– Labor Party 2 / 10 – has greatly under performed, bottom of the class

Tasmanian Greens
The TCT Director Peter McGlone said today that “The Tasmanian Greens deserve the highest mark of all the parties as they have produced a comprehensive series of strong policies covering most environmental issues, including: more funding for reserve management, threatened species and feral animals, incentives for private land conservation, banning of 1080 poison, stronger clearing controls and reservation of Crown land.

“The Greens have held on to their long-held positions but have also produced innovative policies in new areas.

“While we are pleased with the Greens’ over-all, they need to improve their policies on sustainable irrigation, wild fisheries management and private land conservation. We hope the Greens will give these issues greater attention in the future.

“The Greens have failed to support a ban on recreational killing of shear-waters, quail and wallabies but we acknowledge they supported a ban on duck shooting during the election campaign which was a brave decision.

Tasmanian Liberals

“While the Tasmanian Liberals have failed to deliver policies on many important issues they are clearly ahead of Labor on the environment. The Liberals have developed a light-green tinge and this will be good for Tasmania’s environment.

“The Tasmanian Liberals have made a number of positive policy announcements which align with the TCT’s position, including supporting the Private Land Conservation Fund, more funding for reserve management, developing a strategy to direct irrigation development, funding for weed management and re-starting the Bay of Fires national park consultation process.

Labor Party

“The Labor Party has systematically avoided the environment during the election campaign with their only significant policy announcements being a moderate increase in resources for the Parks and Wildlife Service and support for more reservation of Crown land.

“In their feedback to the TCT the Labor Party has relied heavily on its past record and making promises to review it’s position on many issues if re-elected.

“The many Labor Party supporters who are concerned for the environment should be very disappointed.

TCT’s number one priority – Private Land Conservation Fund

“The TCT welcomes the commitment of the Liberal and Greens parties to allocate $1 million per year to establish a Private Land Conservation Fund to provide incentive payments to private land owners to voluntarily protect areas of high conservation value.

“The fund was a TCT initiative and this bi-partisan support will encourage more private land owners to voluntarily protect important areas on their land.

“Most of Tasmania’s unprotected and most threatened biodiversity values are found on private land and it is time government programs recognise the importance and urgency of this issue.

Three Capes Track proposal

“The TCT is disappointed that all three parties supported Labor’s proposed $25 million Three Capes Track in the Tasman National Park.

“All Tasmanian political parties must resist being seduced by the tourist industry into supporting grandiose and environmentally destructive developments such as the Three Capes Track,” Mr McGlone concluded.

Download: 2010 Tasmanian Election: Environment policy scores for the three major parties, as measured against the TCT’s top ten priorities:
18.03_.2010MediaReleaseEnvironmentPolicyScores_.pdf

Note: The TCT has scored the three parties on their policies as announced during the election campaign and did not treat parties differently on the basis that some may be more likely to form government.
Peter McGlone Director Tasmanian Conservation Trust